sono sion

Sono Sion’s PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND Haunts With Imogen Poots Joining Nicolas Cage

Alex Ritman’s newest exclusive at The Hollywood Reporter is continuing the stimulus from last year’s news with Nicolas Cage addition to Sono Sion’s American debut, Prisoners Of The Ghostland. Set to begin production in the Spring, Cage will be joined by Green Room actress Imogen Poots who now joins the film which is currently being shopped in Berlin from XYZ Films. When a notorious criminal, Hero (Cage), is sent to rescue an abducted girl (Poots) who has disappeared into a dark supernatural universe, they must break the evil curse that binds them and escape the mysterious revenants that rule the Ghostland. The news comes after Cage sliced and buzzsawed his way into 2019 with Panos Cosmatos’s bloody, psychedelic action horror opus, Mandy, whose SpectreVision has since also boarded the actor’s recently-announced H.P. Lovecraft nod, Color Out Of Space, also on XYZ’s Berlin slate. Cage took to the 3rd International Film […]

Nicolas Cage’s PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND Sets Sono Sion’s English Debut

Lee B. Golden III

It’s pretty much Nicolas Cage’s world and were all just living in it. Indeed, that makea three headlines this week for the upcoming 211 star whose latest attachment comes by way of Japanese auteur Sono Sion’s new post-apcolyptic actioner, Prisoners Of The Ghostland, which XYZ Films has included in its sales raft at Cannes. News comes just a day following Cage’s attachment to Millenium’s forthcoming detective noir thriller, Kill Chain. Sono, the acclaimed helmer of such favorites as Love Exposure, Tokyo Tribe and Why Don’t You Play In Hell will make his English language debut from a script by Aaron Hendry and Reza Sixo Safai. As Patrick Hipes at Deadline reports, Prisoners Of The Ghostland sees Cage in the role of notorious criminal Hero, who is sent to rescue an abducted girl who has disappeared into a dark supernatural universe. They must break the evil curse that binds them and […]

Han Yan’s Cyberpunk Actioner, DREAM BREAKER, Impresses With Spectacular Visuals And Style In The Latest Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Beijing Film Academy graduate Han Yan is stepping out in strong fashion these days. The latest trailer for cyberpunk action sci-fi thriller, Dream Breaker, is all-but-proof of this with a cast led by actress Chen Duling who recently appeared in Hiroki Ryuichi’s Namiya novel adaptation. Actor and young talent Song Dawei also joins in for the film’s sprawling narrative which reportedly centers on a young girl whose investigation into her father’s suicide leaves her trapped in an illegal VR game. The film’s development and production was targeted specificially toward today’s audiences tethered to the digital age with a design aided remarkably by Sono Sion (Tokyo Tribe) who also executive produced the film. Jetavana Entertainment holds the rights to this particular project with the hopes of launching a franchise bolstered by YA audiences. While we await an exact release date, the aforementioned trailer below is available and all the more validates […]

Sono Sion’s TOKYO VAMPIRE HOTEL Checks In With A New Action Packed Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Director Sono Sion’s new nine part action horror series, Tokyo Vampire Hotel is gearing up for a June 16 premiere exclusively in Japan via Amazon Prime. Alas, there’s nothing being stirred of a release anywhere else beyond that point and hopefully it will be strictly a matter of time soon, but at least the trailers are visble online to tease us poor Westerners. Ha! The series follows Sono’s protégé, actress Tomite Ami in the role of Manami, a young woman targeted amid Earth’s takeover of the evil Corvin vampire tribe on the eve of her 22nd birthday. Upon her rescue by a mysterious and extraordinary heroine named K (Kaho) and with mankind’s destruction looming, the epic story continues with a ragtag grouping of young men and women, some on a dating retreat, now trapped inside the lush Hotel Requiem whose eerie management promise safe haven from outside as long as […]

Sono Sion’s TOKYO VAMPIRE HOTEL To Unleash Hell This Summer For Amazon Prime In Japan

Lee B. Golden III

Amazon Prime Video subscribers in Japan can set the date for June 16 when intriguing film favorite, Why Don’t You Play In Hell? and Tokyo Tribe helmer Sono Sion’s latest original serial offering, Tokyo Vampire Hotel is broadcast live with all nine episodes. The official trailer also went live on Sunday which you can view just above and with its virility, the reactions online thusfar seem to be greatly approving. The series follows Sono’s protégé, actress Tomite Ami in the role of Manami, a young woman targeted amid Earth’s takeover of the evil Corvin vampire tribe on the eve of her 22nd birthday. Upon her rescue by a mysterious and extraordinary heroine named K (Kaho) and with mankind’s destruction looming, the epic story continues with a ragtag grouping of young men and women, some on a dating retreat, now trapped inside the lush Hotel Requiem whose eerie management promise safe […]

Movie Review: SHINJUKU SWAN: KABUKICHO SCOUT SURVIVAL (2015)

Original work: Wakui Ken Director: Sono Sion Lead cast: Ayano Go, Iseya Yusuke, Yamada Takayuki, Sawajiri Erika The story takes place in Kabukicho, the renowned red-light district in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Our hero Tatsuhiko, having hit rock bottom, aimlessly wanders the vibrant streets and soon finds himself in an uneven fight against some thugs. He is rescued by Mako, one of the local leaders, who then offers him a job of a host club scout, sensing that the newcomer’s natural charm will become advantageous for the business. Eager to repay his savior and to aid the girls in finding employment, Tatsuhiko immediately accepts. However, before long, he learns that they are in fact recruiting prostitutes, not hostesses. Although disturbed and conflicted, our guileless hero chooses to continue with the job, pledging that every girl scouted by him will be happy in the end. Shinjuku Swan presents to us the odious world […]

Toronto After Dark Unveils The First Ten Titles!

Lee B. Golden III

The first ten films have been announced for this year’s installation of Toronto After Dark Film Festival next month. Of these, several of these titles already have quite the rave reviews with releases in tow, including the Kiwi death metal horror romp, Deathgasm which also dropped an excluisve poster at EW for its U.S. release through Dark Sky Films. You’ll find the official playlist of trailers for all ten titles at the very bottom, and more announcements can be expected with plenty more details now up at the official website. September 10, 2015: Toronto After Dark Film Festival is thrilled to officially unveil its first wave of exciting film announcements for 2015! Included in the lineup are some of the most critically acclaimed and eagerly anticipated new horror, sci-fi, action and cult films from this year’s international film festival circuit. These 10 new movies will all have their Toronto, Canadian […]

TOKYO TRIBE Gets A U.S. Trailer For Its October Theatrical Release!

Lee B. Golden III

Director Sono Sion broke the mold with last year’s successful run of the hit action hip hop musical, Tokyo Tribe. Despite a few visible differences between the film and manga author Santa Inoue’s 1997-2005 publication on which the film is based, the fervor has grown immensely with key performances channeled by debut actor and hip-hop artist Young Dais, and actors Suzuki Ryohei, Seino Nana, Sometani Shota and Takeuchi Riki to name a few on top of the action and visual spectacle that ensued. This, coupled with Inoue’s absolute involvement in a forthcoming television series adaptation with producer Patrick S. Cunningham and director Daryl Wharton-Rigby as reported by THR back in May, pretty much solidifies just how big a deal this film has been, and it’s a good thing. Incidentally and for reasons painstakingly unknown, it’s also the kind of film that takes forever to reach a certain audience in territories […]

Sono Sion’s TOKYO TRIBE Hits The U.S. This Fall!

Lee B. Golden III

Long celebrated as a film festival favorite since its release last year, director Sono Sion‘s latest induction, Tokyo Tribe has grown into a phenomemal hit with movielovers and festivalgoers with reviews that have been nothing short of electric. With this, the film has earned a place among fans who follow manga lore as one of the best examples of adapting a live-action work of any graphic novel, which has been more than rewarding for those behind this latest gem. The film recently garnered a release in the U.K. a few weeks ago and now it’s finally heading to North America thanks to the folks at XLrator media who have made a killing with this and a few other titles as of late. Without a doubt, Sono has grown a fanbase in the states, and now following last year’s limited release of his previous film, Why Don’t You Play In Hell?, […]